In a stunning finish that exemplified the never-say-die spirit of professional golf, 26-year-old Maverick McNealy overcame a late deficit to secure his first-ever PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic on Sunday. Burying a nerve-wracking 5-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole, McNealy edged out a star-studded field by the slimmest of margins, etching his name into the illustrious history of Sea Island Golf Club.
The triumph, which comes in McNealy’s 134th career start, marks a watershed moment for the Stanford University alumnus, who has long been touted as one of the game’s brightest young talents. With a closing round of 2-under 68, McNealy finished the tournament at 19-under par, just one stroke clear of a three-way tie for second that included Daniel Berger, Nico Echavarria, and Florida State University sophomore Luke Clanton.
A Rollercoaster Final Round
McNealy, who entered the final round with a two-shot lead, found himself in a dogfight as the day wore on, with a host of challengers making birdies in bunches on Sea Island’s Seaside Course. Despite a strong start that saw him turn in 3-under 33, McNealy struggled to maintain his momentum on the back nine, going nine consecutive holes without a birdie as his lead evaporated.
With Berger, Echavarria, and Clanton all making late charges, it appeared that McNealy’s dream of a maiden victory might slip away once again. But the California native, who has been one of the PGA Tour’s most consistent performers over the past two seasons, refused to buckle under the pressure.
“I just kept telling myself to stay patient, stay in the moment, and trust that my opportunity would come,” McNealy said in a post-round interview. “I knew I was playing well enough to win, but it’s never easy to close out a tournament at this level.”
McNealy’s Moment of Truth
That opportunity finally arrived on the par-4 18th, where McNealy’s approach from 181 yards settled just 5 feet from the hole. With Berger and Echavarria already in the clubhouse at 18-under par, and Clanton facing a difficult up-and-down from a greenside bunker, McNealy knew that a birdie would likely be enough to secure the victory.
Stepping up to the putt with steely determination, McNealy took a deep breath, settled over the ball, and stroked it into the heart of the cup, unleashing a triumphant fist pump as the gallery erupted in applause. The birdie capped off a final-round 68, giving McNealy a winning total of 19-under 265 and the $1.458 million first-place prize.
“To make that putt on the last hole, with everything that was on the line, it’s a feeling I’ll never forget,” McNealy said, fighting back tears of joy. “This is what you dream about as a kid, and to finally have it happen, it’s just incredible.”
A Star-Studded Leaderboard
While McNealy’s heroics stole the spotlight, the RSM Classic was not without its share of compelling storylines. Berger, a four-time PGA Tour winner, mounted a spirited charge with a final-round 64, but ultimately fell one shot short of forcing a playoff. The 29-year-old, who was seeking his first victory since the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, took solace in the fact that his runner-up finish secured his place inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings, ensuring full playing privileges for next season.
Echavarria, a 27-year-old from Colombia, also posted a 64 on Sunday to notch his best-ever finish on the PGA Tour. The former University of Florida standout, who won on the Japan Golf Tour last month, appears poised for a breakout season in 2023.
But perhaps the most remarkable performance of the week belonged to Clanton, the 19-year-old amateur who nearly became the first non-professional to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. Despite a bogey on the 72nd hole that ultimately cost him a share of second place, Clanton’s showing served notice that he is a rising star with a blindingly bright future.
“To be in contention on the back nine on Sunday, with a chance to win, it’s something I’ll never forget,” Clanton said. “It just makes me even more motivated to keep working hard and come back even stronger next time.”
McNealy’s Promising Future
For McNealy, who has long been known as much for his prodigious talent as for his famous last name (his father, Scott, is the co-founder of Sun Microsystems), the victory represents a validation of the countless hours he has spent honing his craft since turning professional in 2017. With a PGA Tour title now on his resume, along with berths in the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Masters, McNealy appears poised to take his place among the game’s elite.
“This is a dream come true, but it’s also just the beginning,” McNealy said, a gleam of determination in his eye. “I’ve always believed that I have what it takes to be one of the best players in the world, and this win just confirms that. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
As the sun set on Sea Island, casting a golden glow over the windswept dunes and the shimmering Atlantic, one thing was certain: Maverick McNealy’s star is on the rise, and the golfing world will be watching with bated breath to see just how high it will soar.
